Let South End prosper from Vibes

Published 1:16 pm, Monday, August 31, 2009

The city of Bridgeport signed a five-year contract with the group sponsoring "The Gathering of the Vibes" held at Seaside Park. There is no question that this has brought increased business and publicity to the city of Bridgeport.

The first year this event was held, all the businesses in the area of the South End near Seaside Park prospered. However, last year the sponsors closed off the Main Street end of the park so that no concert attendees could access my store. Concert attendees were limited to the businesses on Park Avenue that were closest to the Perry Arch. Iranistan Avenue was also not accessible.

It was tough enough for the South End when the city closed off Main Street with the construction of Harbor Yard, but this is unacceptable treatment of the remaining businesses in the South End, particularly when the organizers of the program gave the appearance of the first year that they were amenable to working with all the stores.

Any contract the city enters into must be cognizant of the impact and support to small businesses it affects. I prepared for the weekend with additional supplies for the concert attendees and, as a result of the lack of accessible entrance/exit on Main Street, lost all those days of what is usually good business -- in addition to losing revenue from my regular daily customers. Pop's has been in business since 1961!

A simple solution to rectify this issue would be to allow campers on the Main Street and Iranistan side to exit/re-enter the grounds on foot (as in the past). A gate is already established and security is already provided there by the sponsors.

I hope this unacceptable situation will be corrected with the sponsors, and every effort will be made to support the South End businesses surrounding Seaside Park.